Roar of Conquest: Mercenaries Roster news

Greetings! Today I will covering the stats of mercenaries in Roar of Conquest, overhaul mod of Medieval II. This article should help those who are curious to have a better understanding of how the mercenaries will perform in battle. It will also help showcase how many of the mercenaries are no longer the drab, brown-and-grey colors they were once before, and are now colorful and interesting to look at in battle!

For reference, the unit sizes I will be listing here are when the game is put on 'ultra unit size', Secondary Melee Attack represents the secondary weapon cavalry units use after completing a charge, and the acronym AP stands for armor-piercing. The availability listed is to give you a rough idea of where these mercenaries are available.

I will divide the mercenaries in three sections: Jihad-only, Crusade-only, and regular mercenaries, just for the sake of simplicity.

Note: The stats and appearances you see here are for Roar of Conquest: The Late Middle Ages VIII. Now onto the details!

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Jihad Mercenaries

These mercenaries are available only for Islamic factions while a Jihad has been called. They are as follows:

1) Ghazis

• Unit Size: 150
• Melee Attack: 5 (AP)
• Charge: 3
• Defense: 15 (Armor 5, Defense Skill 7, Shield 3)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Spain, The Pyranaes, Eastern Balkans, Eastern Greece, Western Greece, Western Balkans, North Africa, Northeast Africa, Egypt, Nubia, Anatolia, Levant, Arabia, Persia, Southwest Persia

These devoted warriors act as a medium infantry blessed with strong morale.

2) Mutatawwi'a

• Unit Size: 150
• Melee Attack: 4
• Charge: 3
• Secondary Melee Attack: 7
• Defense: 15 (Armor 7, Defense Skill 4, Shield 4)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Spain, The Pyranaes, North Africa, Northeast Africa, Egypt, Nubia, Anatolia, Levant, Arabia, Persia, Southwest Persia

These religious fanatics can switch between their spears or swords depending on the enemy they are fighting, and have very high morale.

3) Jihadi Ghulams

• Unit Size: 80
• Melee Attack: 9
• Charge: 10
• Secondary Melee Attack: 10
• Defense: 17 (Armor 8, Defense Skill 6, Shield 3)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Spain, The Pyranaes, North Africa, Northeast Africa, Egypt, Nubia, Anatolia, Levant, Arabia, Persia, Southwest Persia

Slave soldiers dedicated by their masters to holy war, these men act as strong shock cavalry.

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Crusade Mercenaries

These mercenaries are available only for Catholic factions while a Crusade has been called. They are as follows:

1) Crusader Sergeants

• Unit Size: 150
• Melee Attack: 4
• Charge: 3
• Secondary Melee Attack: 7 (AP)
• Defense: 14 (Armor 4, Defense Skill 3, Shield 7)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Norway, Scandinavia, Spain, The Pyranaes, France, Burgundy, The Netherlands, Northern Germany, Southern Germany, Eastern Greece, Western Balkans,
  Northern Italy, Sicily

These trained warriors provide a solid battle line against enemy forces, using their spears to fight cavalry or their maces to fight infantry.

2) Crusader Foot Knights

• Unit Size: 150
• Melee Attack: 8
• Charge: 4
• Defense: 20 (Armor 6, Defense Skill 9, Shield 5)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Wales, Norway, Spain, The Pyranaes, France, Burgundy, Northern Germany, Southern Germany, Eastern Greece, Northern Italy, Poland

A strong infantry unit great for smashing through enemy infantry lines in the early campaign.

3) Crusader Knights

• Unit Size: 80
• Melee Attack: 7
• Charge: 12
• Secondary Melee Attack: 11
• Defense: 18 (Armor 8, Defense Skill 5, Shield 5)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Wales, Spain, The Pyranaes, France, Burgundy, The Netherlands, Northern Germany, Southern Germany, Sicily, Western Balkans, Poland, Prussia

A strong heavy cavalry, excellent at charging down any foe on the battlefield.

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Regular Mercenaries

The following is a list of all mercenaries available to every faction in the campaign. Some of these mercenaries are not available at the campaign start (the more elite ones, for the most part), so don't be surprised if you can't recruit them right from turn one; they are there, just not available yet.

1) Mercenary Crossbowmen

• Unit Size: 150
• Missile Attack: 8 (AP)
• Melee Attack: 3
• Charge: 2
• Defense: 10 (Armor 4, Defense Skill 6, Shield 0)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: The Pyranaes, Spain, Norway, Scandinavia, France, Burgundy, Sardinia, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, The Netherlands, Northern Germany, Southern Germany, Switzerland, Northern Italy, Sicily, Eastern Balkans, Western Balkans, Poland, Prussia

Cheap but potentially effective crossbowmen, decent at damaging early-game armored enemies.

2) Arquebusiers

• Unit Size: 150
• Missile Attack: 20 (AP)
• Melee Attack: 4
• Charge: 3
• Defense: 9 (Armor 4, Defense Skill 5, Shield 0)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Norway, Scandinavia, Russia, Spain, The Pyranaes, Wales, The Netherlands, France, Northern Germany, Southern Germany, Sicily, Sardinia, Eastern Balkans, Western Balkans, Poland, Prussia

Gunpowder infantry capable of devastating morale-shocking volleys of lead.

3) Frankish Knights

• Unit Size: 60
• Melee Attack: 10
• Charge: 16
• Secondary Melee Attack: 12
• Defense: 24 (Armor 15, Defense Skill 5, Shield 4)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Wales, Norway, The Netherlands, Scandinavia, Spain, The Pyranaes, France, Sicily

A strong heavy cavalry, good for bolstering your mounted forces.

4) Welsh Longbowmen

• Unit Size: 150
• Missile Attack: 5 (AP)
• Melee Attack: 3
• Charge: 2
• Defense: 4 (Armor 0, Defense Skill 2, Shield 2)
• Attributes: Place Stakes
• Availability: Wales

An excellent archer unit with long range, but vulnerable in melee combat.

5) Mercenary Pavise Crossbowmen

• Unit Size: 150
• Missile Attack: 10 (AP)
• Melee Attack: 4
• Charge: 2
• Defense: 16 (Armor 6, Defense Skill 3, Shield 7)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Norway, Scandinavia, Spain, The Pyranaes, France, Burgundy, Northern Germany, Southern Germany, Sardinia, Northern Italy, Sicily, Western Balkans, Russia

A sturdy crossbowmen unit, good for whittling down enemy armored units.

6) Mercenary Spearmen

• Unit Size: 200
• Melee Attack: 4
• Charge: 4
• Defense: 17 (Armor 7, Defense Skill 2, Shield 8)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Scandinavia, Spain, The Pyranaes, France, Burgundy, The Netherlands, Northern Germany, Southern Germany, Northern Italy, Sicily, Poland, Prussia, Russia

A sturdy and reliable unit to serve as a front line, especially in the early game.

7) Viking Mercenaries

• Unit Size: 150
• Melee Attack: 7 (AP)
• Charge: 3
• Defense: 16 (Armor 6, Defense Skill 7, Shield 3)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Norway, Scandinavia, Russia, Eastern Greece

A sturdy medium infantry, good for cleaving through enemy armor.

8) Cretan Archers

• Unit Size: 150
• Missile Attack: 5
• Melee Attack: 7
• Charge: 4
• Defense: 15 (Armor 7, Defense Skill 5, Shield 3)
• Attributes: Place Stakes
• Availability: Spain, The Pyranaes, Sardinia, Sicily, Eastern Greece, Western Greece

Deadly archers who can hold their own in melee.

9) Flemish Pikemen

• Unit Size: 200
• Melee Attack: 5
• Charge: 4
• Defense: 11 (Armor 5, Defense Skill 6, Shield 0)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: The Netherlands

Skilled pike infantry, great for defending choke points or holding the front line.

10) Sergeant Swordsmen

• Unit Size: 150
• Melee Attack: 5
• Charge: 4
• Defense: 16 (Armor 6, Defense Skill 6, Shield 4)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Burgundy, The Netherlands, Sardinia, Eastern Balkans, Western Greece, Spain, The Pyranaes, France, Northern Germany, Southern Germany, Switzerland, Northern Italy, Sicily, Western Balkans

A sturdy infantry unit, especially useful for clearing out enemy spearmen and archers.

11) Mercenary German Foot Knights

• Unit Size: 120
• Melee Attack: 8 (AP)
• Charge: 3
• Defense: 21 (Armor 11, Defense Skill 7, Shield 3)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Northern Germany, Southern Germany, Western Balkans, Poland, Prussia

An elite heavy infantry, great at fighting other enemy heavy infantry.

12) Mercenary German Knights

• Unit Size: 60
• Melee Attack: 6
• Charge: 15
• Secondary Melee Attack: 8 (AP)
• Defense: 23 (Armor 17, Defense Skill 3, Shield 3)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Burgundy, Northern Germany, Southern Germany, Northern Italy, Western Balkans, Poland, Prussia, Russia

An elite shock cavalry, skilled at charging down enemy infantry or cavalry in a tide of plate armor and thunderous hooves.

13) Prussian Spearmen

• Unit Size: 200
• Melee Attack: 4
• Charge: 4
• Defense: 15 (Armor 4, Defense Skill 4, Shield 7)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Northern Germany, Southern Germany, Western Balkans, Poland, Prussia

Skilled spearmen, better than most at holding the battle line against the enemy.

14) Free Company Men at Arms

• Unit Size: 150
• Melee Attack: 15 (AP)
• Charge: 7
• Defense: 17 (Armor 11, Defense Skill 6, Shield 0)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: France, Burgundy, Southern Germany, Northern Italy, Switzerland, Eastern Greece

Professional soldiers armed with pole arms, skilled at taking down a variety of enemies with ease.

15) Arbalesters

• Unit Size: 150
• Missile Attack: 10 (AP)
• Melee Attack: 3
• Charge: 2
• Defense: 6 (Armor 3, Defense Skill 3, Shield 0)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Burgundy, France, Southern Germany, Northern Italy

These men serve as deadly ranged units, but are vulnerable if caught in melee.

16) Free Company Longbowmen

• Unit Size: 150
• Missile Attack: 6 (AP)
• Melee Attack: 4
• Charge: 2
• Defense: 12 (Armor 4, Defense Skill 6, Shield 2)
• Attributes: Place Stakes
• Availability: France, Burgundy, Northern Italy

These mercenary longbowmen are a useful inclusion in any forces ranged arsenal.

17) Condottieri

• Unit Size: 60
• Melee Attack: 8
• Charge: 15
• Secondary Melee Attack: 11
• Defense: 27 (Armor 21, Defense Skill 6, Shield 0)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Northern Italy, Sicily

This heavy cavalry is useful for charging down enemy infantry, even if they fail to measure up against other faction's elite cavalry.

18) Swiss Halberdiers

• Unit Size: 150
• Melee Attack: 19 (AP)
• Charge: 6
• Defense: 20 (Armor 10, Defense Skill 10, Shield 0)
• Attributes: Spear Wall
• Availability: Burgundy, Northern Italy, Switzerland

As some of the most famous mercenaries of the Middle Ages, Swiss Halberdiers are well worth their high cost, cutting through enemy infantry and cavalry with terrifying ease and remaining in battle even when all others have fled.

19) Swiss Pikemen

• Unit Size: 200
• Melee Attack: 7
• Charge: 5
• Defense: 16 (Armor 8, Defense Skill 8, Shield 0)
• Attributes: Spear Wall
• Availability: Burgundy, Northern Italy, Switzerland

As some of the most famous mercenaries of the Middle Ages, Swiss Pikemen are well worth their high cost, holding the battle line against all enemies and reaping a terrible toll while doing so.

20) Condotta Handgunners

• Unit Size: 150
• Missile Attack: 15 (AP)
• Melee Attack: 10
• Charge: 4
• Defense: 19 (Armor 8, Defense Skill 9, Shield 2)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Northern Italy

An elite company of handgunners, these men can fight as heavy infantry in melee as well as blast enemies with volleys of lead.

21) Serbian Knights

• Unit Size: 60
• Melee Attack: 9
• Charge: 14
• Secondary Melee Attack: 9 (AP)
• Defense: 19 (Armor 11, Defense Skill 3, Shield 5)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Eastern Balkans, Western Balkans

A strong heavy cavalry, good for bolstering your mounted forces.

22) Serbian Hussars

• Unit Size: 60
• Melee Attack: 7
• Charge: 12
• Secondary Melee Attack: 10
• Defense: 16 (Armor 7, Defense Skill 5, Shield 4)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Eastern Balkans, Western Balkans

These men serve as swift medium cavalry, skilled at finding weak point in the enemy army and charging into them.

23) Akinjis

• Unit Size: 60
• Missile Attack: 4
• Melee Attack: 5 (AP)
• Charge: 4
• Defense: 10 (Armor 4, Defense Skill 3, Shield 3)
• Attributes: Cantabrian Circle
• Availability: Eastern Balkans, Western Balkans, Anatolia, Armenia

These men serve as quick skirmish cavalry with their bows, and are able to charge into melee against light troops.

24) Albanian Cavalry

• Unit Size: 60
• Melee Attack: 5
• Charge: 9
• Secondary Melee Attack: 4
• Defense: 11 (Armor 5, Defense Skill 3, Shield 3)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Eastern Greece, Western Greece, Western Balkans

Swift light cavalry, good for chasing down archers and fleeing enemies.

25) Armenian Infantry

• Unit Size: 150
• Melee Attack: 8 (AP)
• Charge: 4
• Defense: 18 (Armor 8, Defense Skill 7, Shield 3)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Eastern Greece, Anatolia, Armenia

These men serve as a strong heavy infantry, well suited to holding the line in battle.

26) Armenian Archers

• Unit Size: 150
• Missile Attack: 4
• Melee Attack: 3
• Charge: 2
• Defense: 10 (Armor 2, Defense Skill 6, Shield 2)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Anatolia, Armenia

Light archers good for taking down lightly armored troops at range.

27) Armenian Cavalry

• Unit Size: 60
• Melee Attack: 8
• Charge: 12
• Secondary Melee Attack: 8 (AP)
• Defense: 18 (Armor 8, Defense Skill 6, Shield 4)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Anatolia, Armenia

Deadly heavy cavalry, these warriors are strong on the charge and skilled at taking down armored opponents with their maces.

28) Mercenary Arab Swordsmen

• Unit Size: 150
• Melee Attack: 8
• Charge: 4
• Defense: 20 (Armor 8, Defense Skill 9, Shield 3)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Egypt, Anatolia, Armenia, Arabia, Eastern Greece

Skilled heavy infantry, these men are capable of dishing out damage as well as taking it.

29) Bedouin Cavalry

• Unit Size: 60
• Melee Attack: 7
• Charge: 9
• Secondary Melee Attack: 8
• Defense: 10 (Armor 3, Defense Skill 3, Shield 4)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: North Africa, Northeast Africa, Egypt, Nubia, Levant, Arabia

Swift light cavalry, good for chasing down archers and fleeing enemies.

30) Bedouin Camel Riders

• Unit Size: 60
• Missile Attack: 11
• Melee Attack: 5
• Charge: 6
• Defense: 7 (Armor 3, Defense Skill 4, Shield 0)
• Attributes: None
• Frighten Cavalry
• Availability: North Africa, Northeast Africa, Egypt, Nubia, Levant, Arabia

A light cavalry that can help out on cavalry engagements by throwing their javelins and frightening enemy horses.

31) Kwarizmian Mercenaries

• Unit Size: 60
• Melee Attack: 6
• Charge: 13
• Secondary Melee Attack: 9
• Defense: 21 (Armor 12, Defense Skill 5, Shield 4)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Levant, Southeastern Steppes, Arabia, Persia, Southwest Persia

Powerful heavy cavalry, deadly on the charge and difficult to kill thanks to their armor.

32) Steppe Kazaks

• Unit Size: 80
• Missile Attack: 5
• Melee Attack: 5
• Charge: 5
• Defense: 4 (Armor 2, Defense Skill 2, Shield 0)
• Attributes: Cantabrian Circle
• Availability: The Steppes, Southeastern Steppes

A swift light horse archer, skilled at harassing slower enemy troops.

33) Andalusian Infantry

• Unit Size: 200
• Melee Attack: 3
• Charge: 3
• Defense: 14 (Armor 4, Defense Skill 3, Shield 7)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Spain, North Africa

A sturdy and reliable unit to serve as a front line, especially in the early game.

34) Tribal Warriors

• Unit Size: 150
• Melee Attack: 5
• Charge: 3
• Defense: 11 (Armor 0, Defense Skill 6, Shield 5)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: North Africa

Effective light infantry, good for taking down enemy spears or archers.

35) Numidian Cavalry

• Unit Size: 60
• Missile Attack: 11
• Melee Attack: 5
• Charge: 6
• Defense: 7 (Armor 2, Defense Skill 3, Shield 2)
• Attributes: Cantabrian Circle
• Availability: Northeast Africa

Skilled light cavalry, excellent for taking down heavy cavalry at range with their javelins.

36) Sudanese Tribesmen

• Unit Size: 150
• Missile Attack: 10
• Melee Attack: 4
• Charge: 3
• Defense: 10 (Armor 1, Defense Skill 7, Shield 2)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Nubia, Egypt

Effective light infantry, good for whittling down enemies with their javelins before engaging in melee.

37) Sudanese Mercenaries

• Unit Size: 150
• Melee Attack: 16 (AP)
• Charge: 7
• Defense: 15 (Armor 8, Defense Skill 7, Shield 0)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Nubia, Egypt, Levant, Northeast Africa, North Africa, Arabia

Deadly shock infantry, these men will earn their fee when they make it in melee combat.

38) Sudanese Longbowmen

• Unit Size: 150
• Missile Attack: 5 (AP)
• Melee Attack: 4
• Charge: 2
• Defense: 13 (Armor 4, Defense Skill 6, Shield 3)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Nubia, Egypt, Levant, Northeast Africa, North Africa, Arabia

These skilled archers will cut down any foe that get in range of their deadly longbows.

39) Mercenary Hindu Swordsmen

• Unit Size: 150
• Melee Attack: 9
• Charge: 4
• Defense: 20 (Armor 7, Defense Skill 9, Shield 4)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Arabia, Persia

Tough and deadly infantry, these men are an excellent inclusion in your army whenever you can recruit them.

40) Mercenary Hindu Lancers

• Unit Size: 60
• Melee Attack: 9
• Charge: 14
• Secondary Melee Attack: 10
• Defense: 19 (Armor 8, Defense Skill 7, Shield 4)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Arabia, Persia

These mercenaries act as a strong shock cavalry, skilled at riding down the foes of their employers.

41) Mercenary Rus Cavalry

• Unit Size: 60
• Melee Attack: 7
• Charge: 8
• Secondary Melee Attack: 6 (AP)
• Defense: 15 (Armor 5, Defense Skill 6, Shield 4)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Poland, Prussia, Russia

Tough medium cavalry, good for supporting your infantry and chasing down routing enemies.

42) Mercenary Rus Swordsmen

• Unit Size: 150
• Melee Attack: 8
• Charge: 4
• Defense: 20 (Armor 7, Defense Skill 8, Shield 5)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Poland, Prussia, Russia

Strong heavy infantry, serving as capable attackers or defenders as needs be.

43) Cossack Mercenaries

• Unit Size: 150
• Missile Attack: 28 (AP)
• Melee Attack: 4
• Charge: 3
• Defense: 7 (Armor 1, Defense Skill 6, Shield 0)
• Attributes: None
• Availability: Poland, Prussia, Russia

An excellent ranged unit, these men will deliver devastating volleys of shot downfield for the highest bidder.

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So there you have it, all the mercenaries and their appearances for the campaign! If you like what you see, feel free to download the mod here: ROC: LMA VIII Now, go forth and conquer!